About: Dave DiUbaldo

Nothing melts winter’s icy grip better than some smoking hot rock-and-roll, which is exactly what we got Monday night at The Palace.

We honestly can’t believe it took us so long to check out a show at this impressive opera-house style venue in downtown Calgary. Some context for our Eastern readers, The Palace is what Barrymore’s could be if someone was willing to give her the face lift she so desperately needs. I’m told (and don’t quote me on this) that it was once a grand movie theatre, and now enjoys life as a dynamic and unique venue for local and touring acts.

I found myself in a medium sized college venue on Sunday night. The room was starting to fill, and the line-up outside was still going strong, as Calgary locals The Path Less Travelled took the stage.

On a chilly Friday night, a sizable crowd descended upon Calgary’s Grey Eagle Casino Event Centre. Two names on the bill: The Matchstick Skeletons and the Headstones – the former, a new project with some familiar faces, and the latter something of a Canadian rock institution, celebrating a milestone in their now decades-long career. Longtime fans may spot the oxymoron; after all, the Headstones were once known for their alt-punk “Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse” philosophy. The venue itself furthers this contrast, as fans often (and fondly) relate to having seen this band in small, dimly-lit basement venues sprinkled throughout the country, so to see the same band now fill a room as big as the Event Centre to near capacity is a bittersweet moment.

grandson, along with local openers Open Air and Crooked Spies, absolutely packed The Rec Room in Calgary Friday night (Sept 7th).

Brad Paisley stopped by Calgary last week for a visit to the Calgary Stampede.

I think this is the first time there have been more mohawks than cowboy hats at the Stampede. And I’m not mad about it. A very large, enthusiastically screaming crowd greeted Alexisonfire as they took the stage Thursday night. George Pettit mouths “what. the. fuck.” at guitarist Wade MacNeil, seemingly in awe that 17 years later their fans are just as crazy as they’ve ever been. Maybe there is a bit more grey hair, both on and off the stage, but punk rock doesn’t see age.

In true AoF fashion mic stands were broken, shirts were destroyed, and a wheelchair was crowd surfed. Special mention to The Path Less Travelled, a local hard rock band in Calgary, who managed to get one of their shirts on stage for George to wear, if only for a moment before it was ripped off. That’s gotta be a bit of a thrill. If performance of this caliber is what we can expect from the Coke stage at the Calgary Stampede this year, I will be camping out there for the remaining 9 days of the greatest outdoor show on earth. What a show.

Seeing a bill like this take me back to 1998 when it was still possible to go to a show and like every band on the bill. Nowadays with so much diversity within genres it has become rarer and rarer than I am a legitimate fan of all the bands we see one night. This night was very much the exception to that rule.

I’ll have to admit that the name 10 Years didn’t ring any bells when I started listening to them the afternoon before the show. Then I realised that I’ve got at least half dozen of their songs on my current hard rock Spotify playlist. Catchy, energetic, really well written songs were consistent throughout their entire set. A high energy performance from front man Jesse Hasek kept the crowd engaged, while the band behind him played with the experience that can only come from almost two decades on the road. A nice surprise to have an opener of this caliber take the stage before 7pm.

One bad son took the stage next. I’ve seen these guys a few times back in Ontario, even opened for them once or twice. They’re pushing the new wave of Canadian revival rock, and I couldn’t be any happier to see bands like this seeing success. Playing music relatable to the current generation, while putting on a stage show that is relatable to mine, makes a formula that you just can’t go wrong with. So many newer groups make the performance second to their music, and while the reasoning behind this would make for a long article all on it own, I am very happy to report that One Bad Son is not one of these bands. I don’t think Shane Volk could stop rock posing if his life depended on it.

Lead guitarist Adam Hicks is no slouch himself. Spending the majority of the show running back and forth across the stage, with swagger not seen since the late 80’s. Have I mentioned I love their live show? One Bad Son are Canadian rockers at the forefront of Rock and Roll Revival that we so desperately need. Also their drummer looks like Thor. Do not miss these guys if you have a chance.

IN THIS MOMENT.

I honestly have no idea how to even begin to describe this bands live performance. Every act on this tour brings a stage show that could be used as example for any up and coming indie bands who want to take their game to the next level. In This Moment brings a stage production Rob Zombie should be jealous of. Choreographed, natural, and non stop, this is without question the touring act of the summer. Maria Brink knows exactly what she is doing, and she is doing it well. Would love to see more bands following this example.

Without any further adieu, I am going to let my photographs do the talking.

Shinedown, in my honest opinion, are one of the most under rated bands in accessible hard rock these days. They consistently put out album after album chock full of rocking, singable, catchy, high energy tunes, and I do not hear nearly enough of it on the radio.

Lasers, catwalks, and kick-ass rock and roll were consistently delivered throughout there entire set. Singer Brent Smith engages well with his band, the audience, and even us working  in the pit, coming down during their second song to shake hands with photogs and security. Showing appreciation for the people that allow him to live the life he does speaks to his humbleness. A rare quality in this industry.

Highly recommend seeing any of these acts if you get the chance. You will not be disappointed.

Photos and review by Dave Di Ubaldo and Natalie Fay of Worn Leather Media. Check them out on facebook, instagram, or on the web.

The Lazys hit the stage first last Friday night on the western leg of the co-headlining Nothin’ But Another Bottle tour along side their rock and roll brothers, The Wild.

It was a slushy Friday night in Calgary as punk rock fans invaded the University of Calgary’s MacEwan Hall.

Local openers Bayonet took to the task of warming up the crowd. Delighting the crowd with tunes like Shit Hawks and Cougar Bait – which I believe could easily be an autobiography.

At 7:20 pm on Monday night 200 or so people waited patiently for opener Gabrielle Shonk to take the stage at MacEwen hall. Ten minutes later their patient was rewarded as the young band took the stage. Playing their own brand of eclectic indie folk. Like a jazz band forgot about diminished chords and got a distortion pedal. Gabrielle shows off her bilingualism as she performs her original number ‘Trop Tard’ in french as the band comes close to the end of it’s half hour set. Lucky to grab this spot opening for childhood idols Dashboard Confessional, and supporting her 2016 debut EP, Gabrielle plugs their first single called habit, about “dudes with bad habits”. While they’re not exactly the genre I  usually listen to, this song has definitely earned it’s place on my Spotify playlist. Powerful vocals pulling a cheer from the growing crowd, as avid music fans listened attentively to the soothing melodies of their closing number.